Family Fun in Mansfield

Text of Family Fun in Mansfield

Family Fun in MansfieldSeptember, October, November, December 2016

Special Notes

The Adventure Park at Storrs (860-946-0606) (StorrsTrees.com) is an aerial forest park with fun, healthy and safe outdoor adventures for families (ages 7 and older) featuring obstacle courses in the trees and zip lines of varying challenge levels. Check the website for directions, hours of operation, charges and special promotions.

Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry (486-4605) (bimp.uconn.edu) is located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center and is open Tues.-Sun., 11am-7pm. Check the website for current exhibits through Oct. 9 and new exhibits beginning Oct. 22. Don't miss the Sept. 10 & 11 Community Puppet-building Workshops (pre-registration encouraged) and Saturday performances @ 11am & 2pm especially for children (Sept. 24; Oct. 15; Nov. 5; Dec. 3); details in calendar section. Be sure to check out the great selection of puppet gifts for kids!

CT State Museum of Natural History & CT Archaeology Center (486-4460) (mnh.uconn.edu) has its office on the UConn campus. For a full listing of current programs and registration information visit: cac.uconn.edu/mnhcurrentcalendar. Don't miss the CT Archaeology Fair Oct. 15 on the UConn campus with activities & exhibits for kids!

Gurleyville Gristmill (429-9032) (joshuastrust.org), owned and operated by Joshua's Trust, is open Sundays 1-4pm through October 30. Check the website for directions. Fun for families!

Joshua's Trust (Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust, Inc.) (JT) (429-9023) (joshuastrust.org) offices are located at 624 Wormwood Hill Rd. in Mansfield. JT currently manages over 4,000 acres in Northeast CT, most of which have walking trails open to the public. Check the website for a list of properties (with maps) + scheduled walks, programs at several JT properties in the area + the Passport Program!

Mansfield Historical Society (429-6575) (mansfieldct-history.org) is open Sat. and Sun. 1:30-4:30pm, until Sept. 25. Current exhibits : The career of Mansfield architect and master-builder Edwin Fitch who built many houses, churches and other structures in northeastern CT in the 1830s-60s + Claude's Place: photographs taken in 1978-80 of Claude McDaniels and his farm on Wormwood Hill Rd., plus additional photographs of the ongoing restoration of Claude's house.

Mansfield Parks and Recreation Dept. (429-3015) (mansfieldcc.com) has many classes, programs and activities for young children. Check the Fall 2016 brochure sent to every household for information about After-School Friends, after-school science programs, Community School of the Arts music classes, fee waivers for eligible Mansfield residents, Mansfield parks and preserves brochures, kayak and other rentals, Friends of Mansfield Parks, Family Fun Nights, Snow Days activities and many other offerings!

Storrs Farmers Market (storrsfarmersmarket.org) (storrsfarmersmarket@gmail.com) is open 3-6pm every Saturday (closes @ 5pm beginning Nov. 5) through Nov. 19 on the front lawn of the Mansfield Town Hall. Storrs Winter Farmers Market will be open 2 Saturdays each month from December 2016 through April 2017 in the Buchanan Auditorium at the Mansfield Public Library from 3-5pm. Something for everyone! EAT LOCAL!

UConn Barnes & Noble Bookstore @ Storrs Center (486-8525) is located at 1 Royce Circle in Storrs Center and has a TERRIFIC selection of children's books! Look for book characters in costume at the Celebrate Mansfield parade September 18, and watch for a visit from someone special from the North Pole in December!

UConn Department of Animal Science (486-2413) (animalscience.uconn.edu) (animalscience.uconn.edu/visitors/tour.php) hosts a number of family-friendly animal-related events during the school year (Sept.-May) and allows visitors to several barns on the UConn campus, 7 days /wk., 10am-4pm. And be sure to visit the Dairy Bar! Check out the polo game schedule & download a brochure for young children.

UConn EEB (=Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) Greenhouses (486-4052) (http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/), on the UConn campus, have a huge collection of amazing live plants from all over the world! Call to check on hours open, etc.

William Benton Museum of Art (486-4520) (benton.uconn.edu), on the UConn campus, is open Tues.-Fri., 10am-4:30pm and Sat. & Sun., 1-4:30pm. Check the website for current exhibits and programs that might be of interest to and appropriate for children. Some neat kids' toys, games (etc.) in the giftshop! Check the website for directions, parking, etc.